Illinois unemployment is just as bad as everywhere else, and getting worse. There is a high concentration of automotive industry jobs as well as Wall Street type finance jobs, as Chicago is home to several stock, derivative, and commodity exchanges. Currently, the IL unemployment rate at 10.3% as of June 2009. It’s not just auto-workers and stock-brokers that are losing their jobs — everybody is getting hit hard.

If you are unemployed in Illinois you can file for unemployment compenation as well as other forms of assistance. But you’re looking for answers to your pressing questions about what to do next, questions like:

With well over 6 million people unemployed in the United States, and more people losing their jobs daily, it is tough to get in touch with your unemployment office.

Here’s a valuable lesson that I had to learn the hard way. First of all, you need to file for unemployment online, if at all possible. You should know pretty quickly what the status of your claim is. If you have not heard from the unemployment office, or know the status of your claim, in one week — it is very important that you go to the unemployment office in person.

Often, the unemployment agency tells you “Don’t contact us, we’ll contact you” or some such similar message.

Don’t listen to this. This is how people fall between the cracks.

So, we’ve put together a guide full of great tips and tricks for filing for unemployment, and not falling through the cracks.

The job outlook in New York keeps going from bad to worse. The spectacular crash of Wall Street and the investment banks and law firms has devastated many lives and really weakened the overall NY economy.

Currently, the NY unemployment rate at 8.7% in June 2009. While not as high of a rate as many of the other states, New York’s large population means that this is still a lot of folks out of work.

If you are unemployed in New York you can file for unemployments benefits and other forms of assistance. But you need answers to a lot of questions, including:

The employment situation in Michigan keeps going from bad to worse. The auto industry has been on decline for many years, but it is really on the ropes now. Thankfully, with the bailout money from the federal government and bankruptcy restructuring, hopefully this great industry will emerge stronger than ever. The highest rate in the nation, with the Michigan unemployment rate at 15.2% in June 2009.

If you are unemployed in Michigan there are lots of services and programs to help you. But you need answers to a lot of questions, including:

You can save a lot of time, and increase the efficiency of your job search by using job search sites like:

Monster.com

Dice.com

SimplyHired.com

Yahoo! Hot Jobs

and many more.

You’re still going to have to apply for jobs the old fashioned way – pounding the pavement, mailing resumes, and networking with friends, family, and associates from your field.

These job search engines will help you focus in on just the kinds of jobs you’re looking for, and selectively submit your resume to the companies and jobs that best fit what you’re looking for, as well as your resume.

If you have any job search tips you’d like to share, please post them in the comments below, or start a discussion in the job forum.

One of the first things that crosses your mind is: How will I pay my bills?

You need to be keenly aware of the gap between your layoff and when you will receive your first unemployment check.

In the meantime, we’ve got a great article on how to find money to fill in the gaps between what unemployment will pay, and won’t. You’re still going to have to cut your budget, hustle to find a new job, and be very creative, but we give you some good places to start.

If you have any tips on how to make ends meet when you’re unemployed, please post them in the comments or share them in the layoff forum.

Be sure to check out the rest of our articles for some great tips on filing for unemployment, because you’ll need them. If I knew then, what I know now, I would have done it totally differently. So, learn from my mistakes and take my advice.

It’ll get you on your way to getting back on your feet and landing a new job within no time.

If you have any unemployment tips or would like to share your experience, then post it in the comments section or on the unemployment forum.

It seems like the situation in California keeps going from bad to worse. Starting with the housing and real estate crisis, the state budget is now in shambles. While the legislature has passed a budget to get money flowing, California Unemployment continues to rise. Now, unemployment is rising among government workers, with California’s unemployment rate at 11.6% in June 2009.

If you are unemployed in California there are lots of services and programs to help you. But you need answers to a lot of questions, including: